Solar radiation filter and reflector device and method of filtering and reflecting solar radiation

Abstract

Radiation filter and reflector device and method which filters certain bandwidths and reflects the transmitted bandwidths of incident radiation, in particular solar radiation. In a preferred embodiment of the device, it filters ultraviolet light below 320 nanometers and reflects all other wavelengths of sunlight. The preferred embodiment of the method comprises the steps of filtering ultraviolet light below 320 nanometers and reflecting all other wavelengths of sunlight. Both device and method provide the user with an effective sunscreen for preventing sunburn while affording tanning.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for use in sun-tanning comprising: a first layer of filtering material having an absorption spectrum wherein substantially no less than one or more predetermined bandwidths of wavelengths unsuitable for use in sun-tanning are absorbed by said filtering material throughout a path taken by light through said layer, and   a second layer of reflecting material contiguous to said layer of filtering material for reflecting substantially all wavelengths suitable for use in sun-tanning and substantially all of the wavelengths unsuitable for use in sun-tanning that remain to be absorbed by said filter layer.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 wherein said layer of reflecting material comprises a sheet of aluminum. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 1 wherein said layer of reflecting material is bonded to said layer of filtering material. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 1 wherein said layer of reflecting material is evaporation deposited onto said layer of filtering material. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 1 wherein a surface of said layer of reflecting material opposite said surface contiguous to said layer of filtering material is bonded to a layer of rigid material. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim 1 wherein a surface of said layer of reflecting material opposite said surface contiguous to said layer of filtering material is evaporation deposited onto a layer of rigid material. 
     
     
       7. A device for use in sun-taning comprising: a first layer of filtering material having an absorption spectrum wherein substantially no less than a bandwidth of wavelengths below 320 nanometers are absorbed by said filtering material throughout a path taken by light through said layer, and   a second layer of reflecting material contiguous to said layer of filtering material for reflecting substantially all of the wavelengths suitable for use in sun-tanning and substantially all of the wavelengths unsuitable for use in sun-tanning that remain to be absorbed by said filter layer.   
     
     
       8. The device of claim 7 wherein said layer of reflecting material comprises a sheet of aluminum. 
     
     
       9. The device of claim 7 wherein said layer of reflecting material is bonded to said layer of filtering material. 
     
     
       10. The device of claim 7 wherein said layer of reflecting material is evaporation deposited onto said layer of filtering material. 
     
     
       11. The device of claim 7 wherein a surface of said layer of reflecting material opposite said surface contiguous to said layer of filtering material is bonded to a layer of rigid material. 
     
     
       12. The device of claim 7 wherein a surface of said layer of reflecting material opposite said surface contiguous to said layer of filtering material is evaporation deposited onto a layer of rigid material. 
     
     
       13. The device of claim 12 wherein said layer of reflecting material comprises aluminum. 
     
     
       14. The device of claim 12 wherein said layer of reflecting material comprises silver. 
     
     
       15. The device of claim 7 wherein said layer of filtering material comprises glass. 
     
     
       16. The device of claim 7 wherein said layer of filtering material comprises lithium fluouride crystalline. 
     
     
       17. The device of claim 7 wherein said layer of filtering material comprises para-aminobenzoic (5 percent alcohol) solution. 
     
     
       18. The device of claim 7 wherein said layer of filtering material comprises ortho-aminobenzoates. 
     
     
       19. The device of claim 7 wherein said layer of filtering material comprises anthranates. 
     
     
       20. The device of claim 7 wherein said layer of filtering material comprises orthohydroxy benzoates. 
     
     
       21. The device of claim 7 wherein said layer of filtering material comprises salicylates. 
     
     
       22. The device of claim 7 wherein said layer of filtering material comprises 2-hydroxy-4 methoxybenzophenome (1 to 5 percent aqueous) solution. 
     
     
       23. The device of claim 7 wherein said layer of filtering material comprises 2-prime hydroxy-5 prime methyl phenyl benzotriazole (1 to 5 percent aqueous) solution. 
     
     
       24. The device of claim 7 wherein said layer of filtering material comprises one or more layers comprising one or more materials which absorb a substantial portion of ultraviolet light radiation. 
     
     
       25. The device of claim 24 wherein said materials comprise: glass, lithium fluoride, crystalline, "pyrex" numbers 9700 and 9741, para-aminobenzoic (5 percent alcohol) solution, orthoaminobenzoates, anthranates, orthohydroxy benzoates, salicylates, 2-hydroxy-4 methoxybenzophenome (1 to 5 percent aqueous) solution, and 2-prime hydroxy-5 prime methyl phenyl benzotriazole (1 to 5 percent aqueous) solution. 
     
     
       26. The device of claim 7 wherein an outer surface of said device is fabricated to comprise one or more panels. 
     
     
       27. The device of claim 26 wherein crease means are provided between said panel or panels. 
     
     
       28. The device of claim 26 wherein hinge means are provided between said panel or panels. 
     
     
       29. The device of claim 26 wherein said outer surface of said device is fabricated to comprise two outer panels and a central panel. 
     
     
       30. The device of claim 29 wherein said outer panels are shaped in the form of a quadrilateral and said central panel is shaped in the form of a trapezoid having parallel top and bottom edges. 
     
     
       31. A method of filtering predetermined bandwidths of wavelengths unsuitable for use in sun-tanning comprising: the step of filtering from an incident radiation spectrum emitting from a source an absorption spectrum having bandwidths substantially unsuitable for use in sun-tanning, and   the step of reflecting substantially all other bandwidths of wavelengths.   
     
     
       32. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of filtering includes filtering all wavelengths having a wavelength less than 320 nanometers. 
     
     
       33. A device for use in sun-tanning comprising: a first layer of reflecting material;   a second layer of filtering material contiguous on a first side to said reflecting layer;   wherein said filtering layer absorbs one or more predetermined bandwidths of wavelengths substantially unsuitable for use in sun-tanning throughout a path taken by light through said layer and said reflecting layer reflects substantially all of the wavelengths suitable for use in sun-tanning and substantially all of the wavelengths unsuitable for use in sun-tanning that remain to be absorbed by said filtering layer.   
     
     
       34. The device of claim 33 wherein said layer of reflecting material is bonded to said layer of filtering material. 
     
     
       35. The device of claim 33 wherein said layer of reflecting material is evaporation deposited onto said layer of filtering material. 
     
     
       36. The device of claim 33 wherein a surface of said layer of reflecting material opposite said surface contiguous to said layer of filtering material is bonded to a layer of rigid material. 
     
     
       37. The device of claim 33 wherein a surface of said layer of reflecting material opposite said surface contiguous to said layer of filtering material is evaporation deposited onto a layer of rigid material.